The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
The sunlight's making me feel paranoid
I look outside and see the world at war
The people walk to work like they're alone
I sit in silence staring at the phone
And it helps me breathe, And it helps me see
I cover up my eyes to block the light
I cover up my eyes and try to fight, the fall
And it helps, When I come down, And it helps
The sunlight's making me feel paranoid
I look outside and see the world at war
The people laugh and play like they're alone
They're watching us while we sleep in our homes
I never, I never meant to shut you out
All I know and all I need is you
I never, I never meant to cause alarm
All I know and all I need and all I got is gonna bleed
It helps, when I come down, It helps, when I come down
It helps me breathe, When I come down
Annie
The smell of the ocean on her skin
The rags of her dress blowing in the wind
A chorus of angels on the boardwalk
They know what you did in the dark
Chorus
I never meant to hurt you Annie
Leave you standing with the gun
Come and play with me little Annie
Lose yourself, lose yourself
I lay her back on the cold sand
And wipe the blood from her hand
I fix her hair and kiss her chest
The secrets die in her breathe
Chorus
I never meant to hurt you Annie
Leave you standing with the gun
Come and play with me little Annie
Lose yourself, lose yourself
Oh no, her hands are cold
Oh no, I played with her soul
All night again
I'm alone LOVE
I want the girl all dressed in white
She turns and says hello
She changes colors like a bird
I grab her wings and fly away
She takes me high and leaves me there
I never want that down
Chorus
Love, It's a beautiful place, It's a beautiful taste
Where I am now, where I am now, And I belong
The gentle high is all to blame
I cried for seven days
I feel myself losing control
To all the voices in my soul
There is the girl in white again
I need the sugar from her hand
Chorus
Love, It's a beautiful place, It's a beautiful taste
Where I am now, where I am now, And I belong
And it's such a wonderful way, We're making love right now
And it's such a wonderful way, you feel me up inside
Chorus
Love, It's a beautiful place, It's a beautiful taste
Where I am now, where I am now, And I belong ESTER
Ester why do you look all blue
What did I say to you to make you feel all blue
Ester when you walk in the room
Everybody turns to look at you
Chorus
And that night when I called you
I was being young
And the way I tried to win you
I was being young, I was being young
Ester why can't you talk to me
Why can't you look at me
Why can't sit with me
Ester with your lips all full
With your heart all full, is there room for two
Chorus
And that night when I called you
I was being young
And the way I tried to win you
I was being young, I was being young
I look outside and see the world at war
The people walk to work like they're alone
I sit in silence staring at the phone
And it helps me breathe, And it helps me see
I cover up my eyes to block the light
I cover up my eyes and try to fight, the fall
And it helps, When I come down, And it helps
The sunlight's making me feel paranoid
I look outside and see the world at war
The people laugh and play like they're alone
They're watching us while we sleep in our homes
I never, I never meant to shut you out
All I know and all I need is you
I never, I never meant to cause alarm
All I know and all I need and all I got is gonna bleed
It helps, when I come down, It helps, when I come down
It helps me breathe, When I come down
Annie
The smell of the ocean on her skin
The rags of her dress blowing in the wind
A chorus of angels on the boardwalk
They know what you did in the dark
Chorus
I never meant to hurt you Annie
Leave you standing with the gun
Come and play with me little Annie
Lose yourself, lose yourself
I lay her back on the cold sand
And wipe the blood from her hand
I fix her hair and kiss her chest
The secrets die in her breathe
Chorus
I never meant to hurt you Annie
Leave you standing with the gun
Come and play with me little Annie
Lose yourself, lose yourself
Oh no, her hands are cold
Oh no, I played with her soul
All night again
I'm alone LOVE
I want the girl all dressed in white
She turns and says hello
She changes colors like a bird
I grab her wings and fly away
She takes me high and leaves me there
I never want that down
Chorus
Love, It's a beautiful place, It's a beautiful taste
Where I am now, where I am now, And I belong
The gentle high is all to blame
I cried for seven days
I feel myself losing control
To all the voices in my soul
There is the girl in white again
I need the sugar from her hand
Chorus
Love, It's a beautiful place, It's a beautiful taste
Where I am now, where I am now, And I belong
And it's such a wonderful way, We're making love right now
And it's such a wonderful way, you feel me up inside
Chorus
Love, It's a beautiful place, It's a beautiful taste
Where I am now, where I am now, And I belong ESTER
Ester why do you look all blue
What did I say to you to make you feel all blue
Ester when you walk in the room
Everybody turns to look at you
Chorus
And that night when I called you
I was being young
And the way I tried to win you
I was being young, I was being young
Ester why can't you talk to me
Why can't you look at me
Why can't sit with me
Ester with your lips all full
With your heart all full, is there room for two
Chorus
And that night when I called you
I was being young
And the way I tried to win you
I was being young, I was being young
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Great version of a great song,
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great song. great beat. i agree with the above......also, sunlight DOES make me feel paranoid....i really dont like the sun. but anyways ya so the world's goin thru a buttload of shtuff, so he doesnt wanna go out and deal with it maybe..............
but those r just my thoughts